Lin Yun-ju loses tough 5-set match to Lim Jong-hoon, exits WTT Champions Yokohama in Round of 32

Taiwanese table tennis star Lin Yun-ju was eliminated from the WTT Champions Yokohama tournament after a grueling five-game battle against South Korean rival Lim Jong-hoon. The match, which lasted 52 minutes, saw Lin lose 2-3, marking his third consecutive defeat against Lim.

Ranked 7th in the world, Lin Yun-ju faced Lim Jong-hoon, who is ranked 32nd. While Lin had a slightly unfavorable head-to-head record against Lim prior to this match, their last encounter was in 2022. The opening game saw Lin come back from a 1-5 deficit to win 11-9. However, Lim responded by taking the second game 11-9 after Lin faltered while leading 9-6.

The third game followed a similar pattern, with Lim pulling ahead and winning 11-7. Facing elimination, Lin fought back in the fourth game, reaching game point at 10-7. Despite a brief scare where Lim saved three game points, Lin managed to hold on and win the game 13-11, forcing a decisive fifth game.

In the final game, Lin started strong, taking a 4-1 lead. However, Lim staged a comeback, eventually leading 10-8 and securing two match points. Although Lin saved one match point, Lim ultimately clinched the victory with an 11-9 win in the deciding game. This loss means Lin Yun-ju exits the Yokohama tournament at the round of 32 for the second year in a row.